Inflation device



Jam. 24, 1950 H. E. HEIGIS INFLATION DEVICE Filed Oct. 27, 1944 INVENTORHE/G/f un-4W A TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 24, 1950 INFLATION DEVICE Henry E.Heigis, Nutley, N. J., assignor to Specialties Development Corporation,Belleville, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application October 27,1944, Serial No. 560,695

'7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to inflatable devices, and particularlyto protective means for such devices.

In an inflatable device, such as a life raft or belt, it has been usualto provide for the introduction of the inflating fluid through an inletmeans known as a patch. This patch comprises a flexible disc-like bodyfor bonding to the raft or belt, and a metal conduit extending throughthe patch. The conduit has an outer end nipple for attachment to asupply conduit or container, and an inner end discharge head whichdivides the flow into one axial stream and several radial streams.

The inflatable device for which the present invention is adapted is of atype which, in connection with a patch as formerly constructed, isaffected by the radial streams to cause a suction effect on a flexiblewall of the device to draw a portion of such wall toward the patch. Whenthe inflating fluid is carbon dioxide, during the early stages ofinflation, a small area of the wall portion drawn toward the dischargehead becomes extremely cold from carbon dioxide snow formed or from theexpansion of gas thus rendering such area subject to injury because ofbrittleness, Also, when the inflatable device or raft is deflated andpacked in a compact manner, a'portion of the wall of the device oppositethe patch engages the discharge head which, when hard, or of bare metalas in the former constructions, subjects the device to possible inury.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device adapted toovercome the above mentioned objectionable features, which is simple anddurable in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in itsoperation.

Other objects are to provide means for preventing suction flexureeffects on and avoiding injury to a wall portion of an inflatabledevice.

A further object is to avoid injury to the fabric or wall of aninflatable device by the injector when the device is in deflatedcondition.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description and is shown in the accompanying 2 drawing,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a portion of a life raft equipped with apatch embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the inner side of the patch illustrated inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along theline 3--3 of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, the device therein shown comprises a portion of alife raft l8 having'an inflatable hull l2 and a bottom 14. The hull I2is of substantially tubular formation when inflated and has oppositeflexible inner and outer wall portions l6 and 18, respectively, ofrubberized fabric or other waterproof material.

A storage container or source 26 of inflating pressure fluid medium,which in this instance is carbon dioxide, has a discharge valve 22 whichis connected by a supply line or conduit 24 to a patch 26 on theexterior of the inner wall portion It adjacent the bottom l4. 3

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the patch 26 is shown as comprising asubstantially central portion, constituting a conduit 28 of hardmaterial which in this case is metal, but which may be of Bakelite orthe like, or treated or constructed 'as a combination of materials orparts. The conduit 28 comprises an inlet portion or nipple 30 at itsouter end for the supply line 24, an annular shoulder or flange 32extending laterally from the conduit 28 adjacent to the inner end of thenipple 39, a flange-like mold anchor 34 having circumferentially spacedapertures 35 and spaced axially inwardly from the shoulder 32, and aninner discharge head 36 spaced axially from the anchor 34. The conduit28 has an axial aperture 38 of small diameter through the discharge head36 extending from an annular substantially conical surface 40 oppositesides of which diverge axially outwardly to a bore portion 42 of largerdiameter.

The head 35 has a plurality of apertures 44 disposed axially outwardlyof the surface 40 closely adjacent thereto and spaced from each otherperipherally about the conduit 28.

These apertures extend radially at right angles to the axis of theconduit 28, as shown, but may be inclined along axially inwardlydiverging lines or may be otherwise directed.

The patch 26 further comprises a portion 46 constituting the patch bodyportion proper, which, as shown is constructed of flexible moldedmaterial, such as soft rubber or the like. The portion 46 is molded inposition about the conduit 28 to cover and lie between all of theconduit portions disposed axially inwardly from the axially outertransverse surface of the shoulder 32. That is, the material of thepatch body portion 46 is disposed between the shoulder 32 and the anchor34, in the apertures 35 and in the form of a layer or cover 49 over andaround the discharge head 36 everywhere, except over and in the boreportion 38 and the apertures 44. At the bore portion 38, the patch bodymaterial is formed to provide an inlet port surface 41 ofinvertedsubstantially frusto-conical shape diverging inwardly of the raft fromthe aperture 38 at an included angle of about thirty degrees.

The patch which, as shown in Figure 2, is of generally oval plan, is, asseen in Figure 3, of generally outwardly converging radial sectionhaving initially a, substantially'flat inner'si'de 48' which may fit, orbe flexed to fit, the wall H or" other part according to the inflatedcontour of theWallnr part for bonding to the latter, as by vulcanizing.The patch portion 46 is further moldedtoform a deflection or diffusioncup-like element 50- around the discharge head 36, and is provided witha substantiall conical inner surface 5 2- opposite the apertures 44 anddiverging axially inwardly of the conduit 28 at an included angle ofabouteighty degrees.

In a former device, in which apertures similar to' the apertures 44 weredisposed radially, but without any deflecting or diffusing means such asthe cup 50, the carbon dioxide gas and snow were directed in moreconcentrated flow substantially parallel; and close to a wall, such asthe wall is. This former structure causes a suction flexing effect onthe raft fabric, as on a portion of the wall l'8 opposite the patch sothat, in the early stages of inflation, such portion is sucked ortoward: the patch causing a small area of the fabric to become extremelycold and subject to'dam'age from brittleness.

By the present invention, the above mentioned effect is prevented by thecup 50 against which the 'st'reams of inflating fluid are directed bythe radial-apertures 44 for deflection and diffusion by the innersurfaces of the cup. The angle of deflecti'orr of the streams from theapertures 44' between the stream from the aperture 38 and the wan i6, issuch as to destroy the vacuum or suction causing the flexure effect ordrawing on the i wall l8, so that the area formerly becoming cold andbrittle is no longer so affected.

The layer or cover 49 and other parts of the patch body operate,particularly when the raft is deflated,- as a cushion or protectivemeans between the injector and the fabric avoiding possi'ble'in'ju'ryfrom friction due to rubbing, tearing of other eifects.

It is contemplated further that the patch 26 fnay be variouslyconstituted for the above purposes, as by a selection of materialsaccording to effects with different fluids or service, or by treatii'igto have one body or part, which may form the entire unit, of differentcharacteristics, such as hardness or flexibility at places where suchqualities are of advantage, as in the example given.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that an inflation devicehas been provided which is: extremely simple, durable and economicalconstruction, is readily manufactured and assembled, is dependable andeffective in operation, and avoids dangers and injur to those dependingupon its use in a field of the utmost importance.

As variouschanges' may be made in the form, construction-and arrangementof the parts here- 4 in, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of th invention which, as amatter of language, might be said tofall therebetween.

I claim:

1. A patch for an inflatable device having a wall with an inlet formedtherein, comprising a patch portion adapted for securement to the wallof the device about the inlet, and a conduit discharge head partiallyembedded in said patch portion and provided with a plurality ofsubstantial-1y radial apertures spaced from each other peripherallyabout said head, said patch portion including a substantially rigidcup-like element around said head having inner surface portions spacedradially opposite said apertures and diverging axially inwardly of saidhead.

2. A patch for an inflatable device having a wall with an inlet formedtherein, comprising a molded flexible patch portion for bonding to thewall about the inlet, and a conduit discharge head molded partially insaid" portion and provided with a plurality of side apertures spacedfrom each other peripherally about said head, said patch portionincluding a cup-like element around said head having inner surfaceportions spaced radially opposite said apertures and diverging axiallyinwardly of said head.

3. A patch for an inflatable device having a wall with an inlet formedtherein, comprising a molded flexible patch portion for bonding to thewall about the inlet, and a conduit discharge head molded partially insaid portion and provided with a plurality of side apertures spaced fromeach other peripherally about said head, said patch portion covering theinner end of said head and including a cup-like element around said endhaving inner surface portions spaced radially opposite said aperturesand diverging axially inwardly of said head.

4. A patch for an inflatable device and comprising a hard materialconduit including a discharge head at its inner end, a receiving portionfor a supply line at its outer end, said head having a plurality ofperipherally spaced radial apertures, and a patch portion of flexiblematerial molded in position about said conduit covering all of theconduit portions disposed axially inwardly from the axially inner end ofsaid receiving portion and having flow conducting recesses at saidapertures, said patch portion forming a cup-like element around saidhead having an annular surface spaced radially opposite said radialapertures and diverging axially inwardly.

5. A patch for an inflatable device having an inlet, comprising a patchportion having a face for attachment to the device about the inlet, adischarge head having a portion projecting beyond the face of said patchportion, and a covering of soft elastic material bonded to the outersurface of said discharge head portion whereby injury of the walls ofsaid inflatable device from contact of said discharge head portion isprevented, said discharge head portion having a central passage providedwith a plurality of circumferentiall y spaced discharge aperturesextending laterally from said passage, said covering having flowconducting recesses at'said apertures.

6. A patch for an inflatable device having an inlet, comprising a patchportion having a face for attachment to the device about the inlet, adischarge head having a portion projecting beyond the face of said patchportion, and a covering of soft elastic material bonded to the outersurface of said discharge head portion whereby injury of the walls ofsaid inflatable device from contact of said discharge head portion isprevented, said discharge head portion having a central passage providedwith a discharge aperture at its inner end and a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced discharge apertures extending laterally fromsaid passage, said covering having flow conducting recesses at saidapertures.

7. A patch for an inflatable device having an inlet, comprising a patchportion having a face for attachment to the device about the inlet, adischarge head having a portion projecting beyond the face of said patchportion, and a cover- 7 ing of soft elastic material bonded to the outersurface of said discharge head portion whereby injury of the walls ofsaid inflatable device from contact of said discharge head portion isprevented, said discharge head portion having a cen- REFERENCES CITEDThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,226,857 Brokaw May 22, 19171,518,901 Collins et a1 Dec. 9, 1924 1,805,370 Meyer May 12, 19311,981,720 Crane Nov. 20, 1934 2,085,369 Kilborn June 29, 1937 2,124,909Crowley July 26, 1938 2,341,618 Humphreys Feb. 15, 1944 2,353,161 Heigiset a1. July 11, 1944

